How do you report consumer fraud?

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Consumer fraud should first be reported to local or state law enforcement, notes the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force. This organization provides a comprehensive list of federal agencies to which people can report consumer fraud.

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StopFraud.gov is the Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force website, which links visitors to the appropriate federal agency for reporting consumer fraud. The site provides links to forms and agency contact information, and it lists their email addresses. Each agency provides an overview with the types of fraud it covers, and the Internet Crime Complaint Center also details common Internet scams. The Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission are a few of the federal agencies to which users can report consumer fraud.

The City of Chicago provides consumer fraud protection through its Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection division, according to its website. Users can report fraudulent or illegal incidents by businesses based in the Chicago area, or Chicago residents can report such activities carried out by businesses located outside Chicago. Local fraud protection agencies typically handle such consumer complaints as mortgage fraud and home repair scams.

Another way to report consumer fraud is through a state’s attorney general, notes the State of Colorado. Its consumer fraud division protects consumers from fraudulent calls, text messages and deceptive trade practices. Consumers can report unlawful actions, such as charity fraud, insurance fraud and environmental crime, through the State of Colorado Attorney General website or the consumer hotline.